—✈️ 🇷🇺/🇧🇬/🇷🇸 How did a Russian Il-76 reach Serbia despite Europe’s closed airspace?➡️ Russian aircraft are generally banned from flying through EU airspace under sanctions imposed since 2022. However, EU rules explicitly allow member states to authorize exceptions when a flight is required for humanitarian purposes.
➡️ Bulgaria used that exemption on August 19, approving the transit of a Russian Emergencies Ministry Il-76 after Serbia submitted a diplomatic request for assistance with the wildfires.
➡️ The aircraft crossed Bulgarian airspace from 20:14 to 21:05 before landing in Niš, where it joined firefighting operations. Russia said the Il-76 was dispatched at Serbia’s request as the fire situation deteriorated and threatened populated areas.
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